Shocker Blast: Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Parking and Traffic

Lots 9W and 9E along 17th Street to be closed Aug. 4

Lots 9W and 9E, the parking lots along 17th Street near Ahlberg Hall and Elliott Hall, will be closed Monday, Aug. 4 for orientation.

Red reserved and ADA stalls are not subject to lot closures and proper use is permitted during this time. Green lots are open for the summer, all other lots are still enforced.

Lot 1 and 2W along Hillside to be closed Aug. 6

Lots 1 and 2W along Hillside, the parking lots near Charles Koch Arena, will begin to close the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 6 for an event at Koch Arena. Due to school bus traffic in the area, the lots will need to be completely clear for this closure. Students who typically park in these lots will need to park elsewhere at this time.

The purpose of lots reservations is to help accommodate large groups of guests visiting campus for events or the event itself. Lot reservations are not to be used for WSU affiliates. Remember, visitors to campus can park without an ePermit up to three times each semester.

Red reserved and ADA stalls are not subject to lot closured and proper use is permitted during this time.

News

A student poses in front a camera for the filming of a TV show. A black WSU sign is in the background.

Submit your video for a chance to be featured on WSU’s social media

Do you want to be the star of your own video feature for Wichita State’s social media? Video introductions are now being accepted from students just like you.

You can submit your video through the online Student Stories form. Videos should be under two minutes long and briefly showcase your story and personality. If selected, Wichita State will produce a short feature video to be posted on WSU’s social media.

The following are a few examples of similar features created by WSU:

Here are some topics you can use as inspiration for your submission:

Academics, applied learning, research
Innovation, field experience
Student organizations, athletics/intramurals
Student life, campus traditions, belonging
Student success resources, on-campus living experience

For questions, contact Marcus Wright, director of videography in the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, at marcus.wright@wichita.edu.

Shocker Studios has a new address

It has been a busy summer at WSU South, and Shocker Studios is nearly done with its expansion and will move its entrance Friday, Aug. 1.

The new entrance and parking area for Shocker Studios is located on the west end of the facility. The new address for Shocker Studios is 3803 E. Harry St., Suite 121. The location features new classrooms, lecture hall, student study area and offices. Stay tuned for more information about an open house this fall.

2025 Kansas English published on WSU’s Open Journal Systems

The 2025 issue of Kansas English, the award-winning peer-reviewed journal of the Kansas Association of Teachers of English (KATE), is now available on WSU’s Open Journal Systems. Katie Cramer, professor of English education, has served as editor-in-chief of Kansas English since 2017 and collaborates with Susan Matveyeva, journal manager of University Libraries, to publish the journal each year.

Applied Learning

James Wright stands with how teammates in the ViBracelet team, who competed at the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Pitch Conference

WSU senior prepares for aviation workforce with NIAR internship

James Wright’s work in the Environmental Test Lab for the National Institute for Aviation Research includes measuring salt spray fallout, welding and CAD modeling.

Through each day of his paid internship, one benefit stands out – problem solving. Wright, a Wichita State University senior majoring in aerospace engineering, is from Joplin, Missouri, and works as a mechanical student assistant at NIAR.

“It’s a lot of problem solving,” he said. “I think that it’s vital to learn how to operate in this sort of environment while you’re at school, so that once you make it into the workforce you’re comfortable learning things the hard way and clawing your way up when you’re in a new and unfamiliar situation.”

Presentations and Talks

Artist Just Favela poses in front of an American Flag in a skeleton tee and red sweater

Artist Justin Favela will give a presentation in McKnight Art Center

Born in Las Vegas, Justin Favela is renowned for his large-scale installations in cartonería, the traditional Mexican art of piñata making. Favela celebrates his heritage and identity while reflecting on themes of Latinidad, cultural appropriation and art history. By reflecting on the intersections of tradition and contemporary culture, Favela challenges the ways Latine identity is represented, commodified and misunderstood in North American cultural spaces, inviting the viewers to reconsider notions of authenticity, value and artistic ownership.

Favela’s installations create immersive spaces that playfully dismantle institutional hierarchies, making his work just as subversive as it is accessible and fun. Favela will give an artist talk associated with a new site-specific installation at the Ulrich, opening Aug. 4. This free event starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31 in 210 McKnight Art Center. Everyone is welcome.